I am so excited to share that I’ll be getting married to my most favorite guy and love of my life, James, this weekend! We couldn’t be more excited to make it legal after three years of dating and two years engaged. He even wrote a lovely blog post over at his site if you’d like to read more about how we met, our engagement story, and our wedding plans!

We’ve decided to have a really simple elopement in our adopted home of Chattanooga. You better believe I’ll share some photos with y’all of the big day after we’re hitched. As a girl who feels more comfortable in jeans than dresses, buying a wedding dress was a bit of a challenge for me but I did it and I couldn’t be more excited to live out our very own romantic fairy tale. I’ve sure read enough about it over the years!

In view of the fact that weddings (yes, even elopements) are expensive and that we are honeymooning at Disney World to celebrate our nuptials, I’ve put the paperback of How to Go Steady on sale. If you haven’t picked up your copy, now would be a great time to do so!

I look forward to coming back refreshed and ready to share with y’all the romance comic book goodness I know you miss and give you an update on what I’ve been working on here behind the scenes. In the meantime, take care of yourself and I’ll see you soon!

Buy How to go Steady]]>The Romance is Real!How to Go Steady the Paperback is Now Available! How to Go SteadyJacque NodellTue, 13 Mar 2018 14:03:00 +0000https://www.sequentialcrush.com/blog/how-to-go-steady-the-paperback-is-now-available58644e83579fb3e0e88bbc30:586ae951c4d04bea01fc6455:5aa5eb1b0d92979ac9838a12I am so happy to announce that the paperback version of How to Go Steady is now available on Amazon!

As I stand here holding a paperback copy of How to Go Steady, I'm dancing around with joy. This book has been five years in the making! From an idea to a Kickstarter campaign to the decision to self-publish, creating this book has been nothing less than a journey. Everyone keeps telling me that the first book is by far the hardest and I sure hope they are right! I started working on this one way back in 2013 and there have been ups, downs, and every emotion in between. There's also been a huge learning curve to figure out all the technological ins and outs inherent in the publishing process, but I'm happy to report, I've lived to tell the tale!

So what's next you ask? Now that I have all this self-publishing knowledge, why stop at one? I'm excited to let you know that I'm working on another book! This next one will be a book full of interviews of some of your favorite (and some unlikely) romance comic book creators. I'm wrapping up the last of the interviews, so stay tuned for updates as it unfolds.

If you're on the fence about reading How to Go Steady, I invite you to download a sample chapter and take it for a spin. Get your download right here. For those of you who've read the book and enjoyed it, I would be so appreciative if you left a review. Amazon reviews for self-published authors like myself are worth their weight in gold because readers who aren't familiar with Sequential Crush take those reviews heavily into consideration when deciding whether to plunk down their hard-earned cash on something new. Once again, thank you so much again for all your support over the years and happy reading!

Buy a copy of how to go steady!]]>How to Go Steady the Paperback is Now Available!Romance Advice - How to Get Your ManHow to Go SteadyStoriesAdviceJacque NodellTue, 12 Dec 2017 18:43:00 +0000https://www.sequentialcrush.com/blog/romance-advice-how-to-get-your-man58644e83579fb3e0e88bbc30:586ae951c4d04bea01fc6455:5a1e131eec212d9bd3891a3aI am happy to announce that my book How to Go Steadyis finally available!

Many of you on my mailing list and those who backed the Kickstarter campaign have already picked it up (thank you!!!), but if not, I'd love for you to read it! Currently, you can buy How to Go Steady as an Ebook for Kindle (which you don't actually need a Kindle for... you can read on your computer, tablet, or even phone with the Kindle app.) For those who don't read digital books, I hope to put out a paperback version in the coming months. If you read it, please feel free to share your thoughts either here at the blog or better yet, in an Amazon review! Thank you again to all of you who supported me in one way or another while I was researching, writing, Kickstarting, and now, spreading the word on How to Go Steady! Go out and scoop it up if you haven't already!

One of my favorite things about researching for How to Go Steady was reading other advice books from the 1960s and '70s. What I learned from exploring those other texts was that romance comics as a whole were leaps and bounds ahead of other sources of advice when it came to being easy going and suggesting readers be true to oneself. Interestingly enough, this (not so good) advice from other sources crept into the romance comics as you'll see in Girls' Romances #139 (March 1969). Even the romance comic characters weren't buying the advice!

Eloise has been unlucky in love from the time she was fourteen years old when Jimmy broke things off with her for no apparent reason. It was then and there that Eloise lost her confidence.

Eloise's lack of self-esteem around boys results in awkwardness and stilted conversation. Worse yet, her unease around dates doesn't yield a lot of second dates.

Fast forward five years and nineteen-year-old Eloise is still having trouble keeping her cool around boys. She clams up when they ask her questions and she doesn't come off like the person she knows she is. Eloise is grateful that she so far hasn't been in love with any of the guys she lost, but she fears that her pattern bodes ill for the future. Susan (Eloise's well-meaning friend) presents her with a book titled "How to Get Your Man." Eloise doesn't take Susan's gift too well and winds up chucking it in the trash.

Later that day, Eloise sees that a new family is moving in next door to her family. Moving a piece of furniture is a young, very blond, and very cute young man. Stopped in her tracks, Eloise suddenly feels those "love at first sight" butterflies. Not wanting to lose the mysterious new neighbor should she get the opportunity to date him, Eloise desperately plucks the book out of the garbage.

Eloise reads the book with an open mind and decides to follow its advice to a T. And as you probably guessed... it's not very good advice! Nevertheless, Eloise feels emboldened by her newly acquired knowledge and decides to test it out on her latest crush - the cute blond next door.

The two ride downtown together and eventually get lunch. As Eloise hangs on her date's every word, she puts what she learned in the book into practice. Her date is impressed that they have so much in common.

Despite their promising beginning, Eloise doesn't see or hear from the young man for almost a week. Just as she begins to fear that she's lost him like so many others from her past (despite being equipped with the advice from "How to Get Your Man") she sees him drive past. The young man stares at her for a while and then walks up to Eloise's porch and declares that she is the loveliest girl he's ever seen in his life. Bewildered, Eloise asks him that if he feels that way, why didn't he call her? The young man declares that he just moved next door. Huh?!

The two sit down on her porch and the yellow-haired hunk goes on to tell Eloise that he feels like he's fallen in love with her at first sight. Feeling like she's just purchased a one-way ticket to crazy town, Eloise starts to voice her confusion. Before she can wrap her head around what's going on, she realizes she has actually taken a trip to twinsville! The whole encounter makes her realize it was her all along that had the power to make a guy fall in love with her and not some bad advice in a silly book. Eloise retires the book to where it belongs!

This story does a good job of showing how advice books of the time preyed on fear and insecurities to sell their products. What do you think? Did the romance comics use the same fear-mongering present in other books?

To find out more info on what romance comics and other books of the time were telling young daters, read How to Go Steady!

I won’t try to rehash all the wonderful things about Jack Kirby that have been going around the internet today on what would have been his 100th birthday, but I do want to tell you what he means to me. First of all, without Kirby (along with Joe Simon) there would be no romance comics. And to state the obvious, without romance comics, well, Sequential Crush wouldn't exist!

Romance comics exploded onto the comics scene in part thanks to Jack Kirby. House ad from Young Love #4 (August/September 1949), Prize. Scan from the Digital Comic Museum.

While so much of Kirby's work (including romance comics) was commercially viable, he was an artist that took risks. We should remember him not only for all the superheroes he gave us that remain popular but for all the things that never quite worked out (I’m looking at you Soul Love and Dingbats of Danger Street). Perhaps not knowing whether they'd be successful or not, he had the guts to try anyway. I hope I can be just a sliver as bold as Kirby was in his lifetime.

Cover of Soul Love #1 (Unpublished), Image from Heritage Auctions.

I’ve also always admired Kirby for his unrelenting work ethic -- talk about stamina! His creations oozed out of him and pictures of him at his drawing board show a man who is the very definition of being in flow. For all of those reasons and more (two words for you - Kirby Monsters) I remain in awe of Jack Kirby -- the man and the artist. Kirby may be gone, but the amount of joy he left behind is beyond measure.

You guys! It's been a while, hasn't it?! I'm dropping in today to say hello and officially welcome you to the new Sequential Crush. So many of you have had really lovely things to say about the design and I'm so glad that y'all are diggin' it. Though it took longer to create than I had anticipated (like months longer), I really enjoyed the process of learning the ins and outs of Squarespace (which I highly recommend) and giving the site the makeover it so badly needed!

Much has happened over the past few months behind the scenes here at Sequential Crush. A few things are still in the works, but I'm excited to let you know that I'm putting the finishing touches on How to Go Steady and will be releasing it as an eBook this summer. I'll keep you in the loop on the launch date as things get closer! It's been just about a year since I ran the Kickstarter campaign and I am so delighted to set the book free so you can finally read it!

In the meantime, I hope you'll enjoy looking around the new Sequential Crush and catching up on posts you may have missed. Feel free to comment and let me know what you've been up to -- have you read any good romance comics (vintage or otherwise) lately? I'd love to hear about it!

How to Go Steady is now available!

Buy How to Go Steady]]>This Way to Romance Comics!As We Head into 2017 - An End-of-Year UpdateBloggingJacque NodellThu, 29 Dec 2016 23:48:00 +0000https://www.sequentialcrush.com/blog/2016/12/as-we-head-into-2017-end-of-year-update58644e83579fb3e0e88bbc30:586ae951c4d04bea01fc6455:586ae953c4d04bea01fc6458

2016... oh what a crazy year you've been. While it will no doubt go down as a year full of tragedy and turmoil in the world, on a personal level, 2016 has been really wonderful for me and I’m terribly thankful. I moved to a city I absolutely love and am putting down roots, the love of my life asked me to marry him, and I ran a Kickstarter campaign for my book. Although it ultimately wasn't funded, the experience opened a whole bunch of doors, the biggest of which I can’t reveal yet. It has the potential to be very exciting and I look forward to sharing the news with you when I know more.

Another door the Kickstarter opened was a more internal one. I’ve felt a little directionless with Sequential Crush over the past couple years, which I think is natural with anything that one does continuously for over seven years. The months after the Kickstarter were especially hard when it came to getting motivated, but I'm happy to report I’ve been using the time to really dig deep and figure out what I want for my future as well as the future of the blog.

I’m excited to let you know that I’m migrating the site off of Blogger and giving the site a major facelift. This change is long overdue and I hope it will reinvigorate me as the author and you as readers. There will continue to be blog posts, as well as quarterly rotating exhibits (debuting in the spring) that will explore various themes of the romance comics in-depth. I hope that it will be a change that you love. So, friends, this is the last post on the “old” Sequential Crush. The new site should be up by the end of next week. No worries -- you’ll still be able to find all the romance comic book goodness that you’ve come to expect right here at www.sequentialcrush.com.

I’ll see you next week at the NEW Sequential Crush!Here’s to a happy, healthy, and hopeful 2017!!!

I don't like to get very political here at Sequential Crush and consequentially, I've kept pretty mum during this election cycle. I want to keep the focus on comic books and history. But, when I found out a story from Sweethearts #79 (November 1964) titled "Lady President" existed,* well, I just had to post it to commemorate the unprecedented excitement I've felt during this campaign season. Frankly, we are long overdue for a "Lady President!"

Like many characters in romance comics, Beth's whole world revolves around her beau, Paul. The two plan to get married and raise a family when Paul finishes college. As Beth bids her sweetheart adieu the two reiterate their plan to date others, have fun, but ultimately reunite.

Naturally, Beth misses Paul in his absence, but she takes solace in school, friends, and the company of a few swell dates. One of her regular dates, a guy named Will starts to fall in love with Beth. Not wanting to lead him on, she breaks things off with Will. Feeling ashamed about her brief romance Beth tells Paul when he returns for a visit. Paul is understanding and proud that he is with a girl that doesn't break hearts for sport. Paul knows Beth is a catch!

Beth is also well liked by her classmates and one day she is approached by a fellow senior named Vera. Unbeknownst to Beth, she has been unofficially nominated by Vera and her crew to run for Senior Class President.

Shocked at the proposition, Beth agrees to run with Vera at the helm of the campaign. Ohhh yeah!

Beth's campaign for presidency ensues and after much excitement and even a large rally in her honor, she is elected president! She can hardly wait to tell Paul the good news.

Paul is excited for Beth, and eager to show her off to his college buddies, invites her to a party. The only problem is the other senior girls are throwing Beth a party to celebrate and she very much wants to attend. Paul is cool with her skipping out on his party because he can introduce her to his friends at the upcoming Christmas party. Unfortunately, the holiday party is scheduled for the same evening as Beth's big acceptance speech and official inauguration. Paul flips and tells Beth she must choose -- it's either him or the presidency.

Beth is committed to her new found leadership skills and does the unexpected (at least for a 1960s romance comic) -- she chooses herself and the presidency!

Long sleepless nights ensue but Beth resists the temptation to call Paul. She rises to the occasion and at her inauguration gives a killer speech to her adoring classmates.

The end! Well, not exactly... Paul makes a surprise appearance at the school. He has come to his senses and apologizes to Beth for his stupidity. The two embrace and we are given the hint that all ends well for the First Man and Beth, the forever changed civic-minded Lady President! Huzzah!

In a sea of Charlton romance stories where romance and ambition clash, "Lady President" is refreshingly different. I love Beth. She is strong and won't let a guy stop her yet she knows that romance is what makes life rich and well-rounded. I also love Vera, the undercurrent of the supportive classmates, and the clear message of women helping fellow women. Given the prevalence of romance comics in their heyday, I'd like to think that maybe Hillary read this as a teen and was inspired!

I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I did and whatever the outcome of today's election -- let's remember that love is where it's at!

*I unfortunately do not have this issue in my collection (yet) but a big thank you to Andres of a blog titled Miracle Machine for posting this story in its entirety back in 2010. We are indebted to you!

For more romance comic book goodness, read How to Go Steady!

buy how to go steady]]>"Lady President" - 1964 Charlton Romance Comic Story Ahead of the Curve!A Howard Chaykin Romance Story!StoriesArtistsJacque NodellFri, 07 Oct 2016 16:04:00 +0000https://www.sequentialcrush.com/blog/2016/10/a-howard-chaykin-romance-story58644e83579fb3e0e88bbc30:586ae951c4d04bea01fc6455:586ae954c4d04bea01fc6480There are a few names that go with romance comics like peanut butter goes with jelly... John Romita, Sr., Jay Scott Pike, Vince Colletta, and so on. Then there are the names of that when mentioned in the context of romance comics elicit a "No way!" Today, I have for you a cute three-page story illustrated by one such artist -- Howard Chaykin. Probably best known for his work on the 1970s Marvel adaptation of Star Wars and his 1983 series American Flagg!, Howard is also a total hoot. My fiancé and I had the pleasure of having dinner with him (and Danny Fingeroth too) about this time last year and let me tell you. It was probably one of the most entertaining conversations I've ever been privy too.

The occasion of our meeting began when Danny introduced me to Howard at Wizard World Nashville. I had Young Romance #185 (August 1972) in hand, ready to ask questions of Howard's time working on romance comics. Well, I hate to admit it, but I got caught up in the excitement of the convention and I totally forgot to write down what Howard said. All I remember is him saying yes, he did work on "Not Old Enough!" and yes, Dorothy Woolfolk gave him his start at DC Comics via romance comics. Let's take a look at the story, shall we?!

I love this silly little story not only because of the Chaykin connection but because the message of the story embodies the overarching spirit of 1970s romance comics -- be yourself! You ain't fooling nobody!

Now that I have it on my mind, I think I'll go ahead and email Howard to see if he's up for that interview!

For more tips on how to be yourself while dating, read How to Go Steady!

Gothic Romance comics were short-lived in the 1970s but are making quite the comeback!

It's October and you know what that means?! Gothic romance! As romance comic fans we are in for quite the treat this year. Over the summer, DC Comics announced they would be bringing back the Gothic romance with a three-part miniseries -- Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love.

A young woman with a conflicted heart and the ability to see ghosts, Berenice lives with her boyfriend, Nathan, in a grand mansion in New England but is growing closer and closer to her best friend, Sam. As she struggles with her heart’s desire, a dark presence settles over the mansion, drawing the attention of the ghostly superhero Deadman. As Berenice and Deadman seek to free the house and its inhabitants from this vengeful rage, more disturbing and sinister secrets emerge, leaving Berenice in grave danger. (DC Comics)

I was provided an advanced reader copy of issue one and I think you are really going to like this homage to the Gothic romances of the '70s and the clever use of Deadman (AKA Boston Brand).* I had the opportunity to speak with the writer of the new series (and fellow romance comic book fan), Sarah Vaughn, about the project:

Deadman sounds like the perfect character for this project and I love that the Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love title is being used. How excited were you to be asked to be a part of such a unique project?

"Super excited! I’ve been reading vintage American romance comics since I was 17, so to get a call from DC to discuss writing a romance comic was a bit surreal."

Who is the target reader for this book? Will fans of romance comics dig it?

"I’ve been thinking about this, and I don’t really have a specific target audience in mind when I write. I write what I want to read, and hope that other people enjoy it, too, no matter who they are or what demographics they fall into. I know that, historically speaking, romance has skewed female, but I’ve come to believe that many people enjoy love, and it’s about the individual the story connects to, not the group.

I love romance comics, passionately. There are so many different relationship dynamics and stories to tell and read. There are certain things that always float my boat and others I’ll never go for, and I know that’s the same for other readers.

And I certainly hope that romance comics fans will enjoy the book! I wanted it to feel familiar in a way to the gothic romances of the 1960s and '70s, but the flow and length are definitely a bit different."

How much of Deadman's origin story will be depicted in the mini-series for the uninitiated?

"I haven’t forgotten Deadman’s origin, but it doesn’t take precedence. Boston Brand himself, of course, is a central character. For the most part, I wanted to tell a more intimate superhero story, almost as if it was just another story in the saga of Boston Brand, like a side quest in a longer video game."

How were you inspired by the 1970s Gothic romances published by DC Comics? Were there any specific styles, stories, or artists from the original Gothic romances that you drew inspiration from to create this homage?

"More figuratively than anything else. When I read an American romance comic that I absolutely love, I get swept up in the color, the artwork, the long looks, the romantic kisses, the drama, and I definitely wanted to convey that. It’s a little tough with old romance comics, because almost all of them are anthology, which I definitely considered paying homage to during the development stage.

But what excited me was when I first read issue 1 of The Sinister House of Secret Love, a year or two ago. It was basically a novella, and the first I had ever read of that length in American comics. One issue was one story, the end. I wanted to spend even more time with the characters, so to have it be a limited series that was a bit longer really worked for me.

Lan Medina’s art is just gorgeous. José Villarrubia’s colors and Janice Chiang’s letters really bring it all in. When I finally got to read the first issue all together, and I was just thrilled. I personally felt all the things I enjoy about romance comics. Agh, I’m really excited and nervous."

What will Deadman’s role be in the story-arc? Does he ever get the opportunity to play Cupid or find love himself?

"Without giving too much away, there are definitely parts of that for Boston! He meets someone he has a connection with, and has insight on what he sees about others. That’s all I can say for now!"

Tell us about the new character “The Darkness.” Is their vengeful rage because of a lost love?

"The Darkness is an entity of dark energy that wreaks havoc on the living, and figuring out what is actually going on at Glencourt Manor is a huge part of the book. Every character is touched by love and relationship in their own way."

Do you think that this mini-series opens DC up to more romance comics in the future -- Gothic or otherwise?

"I certainly hope so! DC published some of the best romance comics, even during the Comics Code era. I’d love to see them branch out their genres again. I’m not sure it would ever look like it did back in the day, or be in the same format, which I’d say could be a good thing. But it’s exciting to think of the possibilities with how comics have evolved over the decades and how we can go even further."

Can you talk about the reception of the concept so far? I have a feeling people are really excited for this one (myself included)!

"I don’t really know! I’ve been staying off the internet and social media for a while now, and don’t google myself or things I work on. But every now and then friends and colleagues will bring it up, and if I hear something kind down the grapevine, that always makes me really happy. But for my own peace, I just can’t seek it out. I have enough of a hard time hitting send on emails and writing answers to interview questions.

That said, I’ve put a lot of love and deep care in this story, and I really do hope people enjoy it."

Thank you, Sarah! To dive into the whole mystery of Glencourt Manor, be sure to pick up Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #1 tomorrow at your local comic book shop! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the new series so feel free to leave a comment below or find me on Facebook or Twitter!

*Fun Fact: Deadman was created by Arnold Drake (along with Carmine Infantino) in 1967. Drake had previously worked with Leslie Waller and romance comic book legend, Matt Baker, on the 1950 pulpy romance, It Rhymes with Lust (published by St. John).

Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love]]>Sequential Crush Talks Gothic Romance Comics + Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love with Series Writer, Sarah Vaughn!Friday Favorites - You Should be Dancing! CoversJacque NodellSat, 17 Sep 2016 02:41:00 +0000https://www.sequentialcrush.com/blog/2016/09/friday-favorites-you-should-be-dancing58644e83579fb3e0e88bbc30:586ae951c4d04bea01fc6455:586ae955c4d04bea01fc64acSince 2009, I've had the pleasure of sharing my love for romance comics with all you fine folks here on the blog. I am happy to let you know that this spring I will be launching a brand spankin' new Sequential Crush site. Not only will there be blog posts (including full archives), there will be video posts, and special rotating exhibits. Get ready for more romance comic book goodness than you can shake a stick at!

Besides reflecting on the future direction of the blog, I've also been using the time since my Kickstarter campaign ended in July to figure out what is next for my book How to Go Steady: Timeless Dating Advice, Wisdom, and Lessons from Vintage Romance Comics. I tossed around the idea of running a second Kickstarter campaign but ultimately, I've decided to self-fund the completion of the book and publish it digitally and print on demand through Amazon.

I am SO excited where things are headed that it makes me want to do a happy dance. In that spirit, here are some of my favorite covers featuring dancing!

]]>Friday Favorites - You Should be Dancing!Down to the Wire - The Sequential Crush Kickstarter for How to Go Steady!How to Go SteadyJacque NodellWed, 13 Jul 2016 02:31:00 +0000https://www.sequentialcrush.com/blog/2016/07/down-to-wire-sequential-crush58644e83579fb3e0e88bbc30:586ae951c4d04bea01fc6455:586ae955c4d04bea01fc64be

What a crazy 30 days it has been! The Kickstarter campaign for my first book How to Go Steady has been quite the adventure. With 12 hours left to go, we are still pretty far from making our funding goal. It would take a comic book miracle to catch up at this point, but hey, stranger things have happened right?! We are still hopeful, but Jenny and I are prepared for the inevitability that we will need to take a step back and analyze our approach.

That said, it isn't over 'til it's over! We would also be so grateful if you could share the campaign link (http://kck.st/1Uq78CU) and let your friends know. So many of you have already pledged generously and spread the word, and for that, I cannot thank you enough! This book has been almost four years in the making and made possible by your love, support, and belief over the years. Thank you so much!!!

]]>Down to the Wire - The Sequential Crush Kickstarter for How to Go Steady!This is What it Sounds Like When Boys CryHow to Go SteadyPanelsJacque NodellSat, 09 Jul 2016 22:37:00 +0000https://www.sequentialcrush.com/blog/2016/07/this-is-what-it-sounds-like-when-boys58644e83579fb3e0e88bbc30:586ae951c4d04bea01fc6455:586ae955c4d04bea01fc64c3In our culture, men have overwhelmingly been taught not to cry. Shedding tears or showing emotion other than stalwart resolve is seen as weakness and frowned upon. Now, when it comes to the romance comics we immediately think of tearful young women, right? But believe it or not, romance comics depicted guys crying occasionally... and here are a few panels to prove it!

Oh heavens, no, Rafe! You are much too handsome to be weeping! "Everything Nice" Just Married #79 (September 1971) Pencils: José Luis García-López

Not only did guys sometimes cry in the romance comics, they also read romance comics! We know about this demographic because quite a few young men wrote into romance comics to express their romantic anguish to the columnists. If you'd like to read more of the advice that was dished out to the boys, you should definitely back my current Kickstarter campaign for my book, How to Go Steady: Timeless Dating Advice, Wisdom, and Lessons from Vintage Romance Comics. There's a whole chapter in the book devoted to love lessons for guys!

There are only 3 days left to back, so you don't want to miss out! Thank you so much to everyone who has backed already. I can't do it without you!!!

]]>This is What it Sounds Like When Boys CryRomance Guru - Page Peterson is Full of Advice on How to Go SteadyHow to Go SteadyAdviceJacque NodellWed, 06 Jul 2016 19:55:00 +0000https://www.sequentialcrush.com/blog/2016/07/romance-guru-page-peterson-is-full-of58644e83579fb3e0e88bbc30:586ae951c4d04bea01fc6455:586ae955c4d04bea01fc64d6She's shown us how to hold onto our man, how to cope with annoying siblings, and how to pull out of a feeling sorry for ourselves downward spiral. She's also got a fab wardrobe, an office full of midcentury modern furniture, and a huge heart. She's none other than Page Peterson.

"Do's & Dont's of Dating" Young Romance #190 (January 1973)

Did readers like Page? You bet they did!

"Ann Martin, Counselor-at-Love" Secret Hearts #152 (June 1971)

Page's "Do's and Dont's of Dating" and text pages are some of the best pieces of advice in the romance comics. Not only are they visually appealing, they are filled with wisdom to be gleaned by us modern folks needing answers in love. For those reasons and many more, Page's advice made it into my upcoming book How to Go Steady: Timeless Dating Advice, Wisdom, and Lessons from Vintage Romance Comics.

How to Go Steady's interpretation of Page Peterson

If you haven't backed already, NOW is the time! There are only six days left to help us fund this baby. We've got some great backer rewards including the book, stickers, mini-prints, and original artwork from How to Go Steady. You definitely don't want to miss out! Best of all, not only will you get some neat stuff, if we can reach our goal this book will become a reality! Thank you so much to all of you for your support thus far!

]]>Romance Guru - Page Peterson is Full of Advice on How to Go SteadyRomance in Fashion - The American GirlFashionHow to Go SteadyJacque NodellMon, 04 Jul 2016 19:28:00 +0000https://www.sequentialcrush.com/blog/2016/07/romance-in-fashion-american-girl58644e83579fb3e0e88bbc30:586ae951c4d04bea01fc6455:586ae955c4d04bea01fc64de

"Romance in Fashion" Young Love #58 (Nov/Dec 1966)

Hi, there! I hope you're enjoying a long holiday weekend full of fun, rest, and romance! If you haven't already, I'd be so thrilled if you had a look at the Kickstarter campaign I'm running to help publish my book How to Go Steady: Timeless Dating Advice, Wisdom, and Lessons from Vintage Romance Comics. With only eight days left to go, we are close to the end but not quite where we want to be. You can help change all that! Head on over to Kickstarter, read about our campaign, watch the video, and back and/or just share the love. To all those who've already backed... you're simply the best!!!

Yesterday I caught up with Jenny (the artist for How to Go Steady) to touch base about our Kickstarter campaign. She let me know it had been a rough couple of days because the guy she'd been seeing for a while dumped her for another girl. Ugh! I hate that for her! It totally sucks to be dumped, especially for someone else but I reassured her that it isn't the end -- it's the beginning!

Jenny joked that she needs to follow the advice in the book to bounce back and well, I couldn't agree more! In light of this, let's take a look at a few pieces of advice from romance comics that you'll find in How to Go Steady, shall we?

Got that, ladies? Buy a pair of hot pants, stat!

Groovy guys are floating around. Especially at the beach! Panel from "Love From a Stranger!" Young Love #93 (March 1972)

All so true. Sound advice from "When You're Between Boyfriends" Young Romance #187 (October 1972)

It never ceases to amaze me that there was a whole genre of comic books that were not only entertaining but instructional as well. Certainly, not all of the advice was stellar, but so much of it continues to be timeless and useful.

You'll find all this advice and much more in How to Go Steady: Timeless Dating Advice, Wisdom, and Lessons from Vintage Romance Comics. If you'd like to see this book become a reality (and get yourself a copy in the process) visit our Kickstarter campaign!

It’s hard to believe the day has come, but the Kickstarter is here! Visit http://kck.st/1Uq78CU to show some love and get in on the fun. I am so hopeful that we will get funded and turn this book into a reality. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of my first book!

Hello there! It's been a while since I've shared a progress update on my impending book! Truth is, I've been so in it that I've neglected the sharing part of the process. Today, though, I'm going to get you all caught up.

But first, since we are old friends here at Sequential Crush, I want to share some exciting personal news of late. It's even romance related! My wonderful boyfriend, James, proposed to me the other week and I said YES! I'm extremely excited to begin this stage of my life as a fiancée and soon-to-be wife to the most supportive and wonderful man around!

Now, on to book news! The book is written and edited and I've hired Jenny Cimino (pictured with me below) to make it come to life. Jenny is a talented illustrator and graphic designer and I think you'll absolutely fall in love with her style and what she has planned for the book! We've had a ton of fun working together and I think we make an excellent team.

Jenny and I after our whirlwind meeting a few weeks ago -- we even held part of it in Jenny's home and studio, a sweet 1974 RV!

I've been hard at work playing art director, creating a budget, getting samples and quotes from printers, creating reward tiers, figuring out shipping prices and logistics, and writing the campaign text. This weekend, James will be helping me shoot the campaign video. As long as everything goes according to plan, the Kickstarter campaign will launch the week of June 13th!

Along with the romance comics themselves, we used Pinterest to keep track of ideas and inspiration.

I've poured my heart and soul into writing this book (and yes there have been a few tears along the way), but I'm confident that it will all be worth it. I'm extremely excited to share the campaign with you and I hope you'll see that Jenny and I have done due diligence to honor the romance comics. I hope you'll join us for the Kickstarter and help us turn this book into a reality!

Last time we gathered I gave you a sneak peak of today's story, "I Am a Woman!" I had wanted to share it during Women's History Month, but alas! I ran out of time. No harm there though because this story from Young Romance #190 (January 1973) with Tony DeZuniga pencils is the epitome of timeless. So what makes it such a compelling story some 40 years after its original publication? Read on to find out!

Toni and David are happily engaged and facing the tough situation of their impending long distance relationship. Though neither of them desires to be apart, they know it will put them in a better spot for their future.

Upon coming home from her date with David, Toni is greeted by a less than enthusiastic father. Angry his daughter's been out so late, Tom starts to squabble with Toni and her mother, Mary. As any supportive mother would, Mary tries to stand up for her daughter and her future bridegroom. Ultimately, Mary defers to her husband's lead, upsetting Toni greatly. As a modern young woman, Toni can't understand her mother's willingness to be treated as less than her husband's equal. Toni believes that David shares her beliefs of equality and things will be different in their marriage.

Their wedding day seems happy enough but it comes as no surprise based on David's assertion that he knows "...just how to handle Toni," that soon after the honeymoon David turns into a brute. It all starts when David goes ahead and buys their house without Toni's input. Their house! Yeah. I can't believe it either. David continues to dial up the jerk-o-meter by telling Toni she's a nag when she asks him to pick up his things, changing plans on her, and even dismissing her opinions in front of his friends.

"Slowly I began to realize that just loving a man isn't enough..."

The big blowout comes when Toni announces that she needs to have another purpose in life besides catering to David's needs. She wants to work outside the home. David puts his foot down, however, and declares that there'll be no job for Toni. The next day, Toni packs her things and lets her husband know what's what.

Notice the post-nuptial separate beds!

Toni goes to her mother and father's house but quickly discovers that as they say, you really never can go home again.

After leaving her childhood home in search for a place to stay in the city, Toni is greeted by David at the train station. He knew she'd be there after Toni's mother called him and told him about Toni's visit. After the initial shock of her mother defying her father wears off, Toni and David head back to their mutual home.

Once at the house, David begins to explain his change of heart to Toni. He finally gets it. The newlyweds embrace and what appears to be a tear (and hopefully not just a printing smudge), rolls onto David's cheek.

In this story, the essence of womanhood is depicted as being connected to a sense of purpose. Not unlike reality, for some romance characters that meant rearing children and taking care of a household. For others, a sense of purpose was found in having a career outside the home. When David denied Toni her purpose, he was met with her wrath! It would've been one thing if Toni wanted to stay home, but the fact that she adamantly wanted to work outside the home makes David seem out of touch, even by 1970s standards!

As time goes on and the current social climate and economy deem dual incomes as the goal for many families (whether out of choice or necessity), I believe the question of whether to marry and have a family or advance ones career will continue to be an issue for many young women. Just when I see some wacky Charlton comic extolling the virtues of discotheques, I am reminded by the DC romance stories just how relevant romance comics continue to be in many ways.

Speaking of relevance -- how would you like to read a book about the dating advice from romance comics and how much of it is still applicable? If that sounds up your alley, then you are in luck! If things go as planned, I'll be launching my Kickstarter campaign next month! I've been hard at work pulling together the logistics and I can't wait to share with y'all the fun stuff I've been cooking up!

Nowadays, girls have more choices than they ever did before... In fact, the Women’s Liberation Movement has given a whole new status to women as people — not as housewives and mothers. The question arises: Is marriage right for every girl??

— Young Romance #190 (1973)

Marriage is pretty much par for the course in romance comics. Engagements, weddings, and all the other events and emotions that revolve around the institution were prevalent in the pages of the love comics. Influenced by second wave feminism, quizzes like the one below from Young Romance #190 (January 1973) began to pop up, along with sequential stories that incorporated the increasing visibility of the Women's Movement. This particular quiz with questions about careers, education, politics, and domesticity, planted the seed that maybe, just maybe, marriage (especially young marriage) wasn't for everyone.

How did you score? I got a 44. In my twenties, I probably would have gotten a result indicating that I was less about marriage and more about career. But as I enter the second year of my thirties, the prospect of having a family of my own is becoming increasingly important. Since the majority of romance comic readers were on the younger side, I have a feeling that many who took the quiz were on the extreme ends of the spectrum rather than in-between like myself.

In the issue, the quiz was followed by a closely connected sequential piece titled, "I Am a Woman!" penciled by Tony DeZuniga. The story tells the plight of Toni, an unhappy newlywed. The reason why Toni is prepared to leave her new groom? Well... you're gonna have to wait 'til next time to find out! Join me then for the rest of "I Am a Woman!"

Over the past couple of month as I've been preparing my own book for an eventual Kickstarter campaign, I've done quite a bit of research on the crowdfunding site. As it turns out, one of the best ways to get a feel for how a campaign runs is to back others' projects. Not only has it been a great learning experience, it's been so inspiring to see all the high-quality projects out there fueled by passion. Without further ado, here are a few current campaigns I personally backed that I think will appeal to you, my fellow romance comic book fans!

Just because American romance comics faded from the mainstream comic book market quite a few years ago doesn't mean that people don't want to read sequential stories about love. While I've tried to fill the historical gap of knowledge of the genre, Rosy Press has helped to wet the public's whistle for contemporary romance comics with the digital anthology Fresh Romance. Now, the small publisher has decided to take the title to print with a deal with Oni Press and a Kickstarter version.

Not only am I a fan of Fresh Romance, I also had an article about the fashion of the 1960s and '70s romance comics published in Fresh Romance #2. I'm hoping that my article will make it into the print version, but either way, I'm excited to see romance comics making a comeback! The campaign has met and surpassed its $39,000 goal, but any additional funds will certainly help the project out.

I became aware of The Other Side when one of its editors, Kori Michele, got in touch with me to share news of the campaign. I was immediately sucked in by the cute little ghost in their campaign video. For fans of the short-lived subgenre of Gothic romance comics, this could be quite fun! Like Fresh Romance, the campaign is also fully funded but the stretch goals will help to give extra compensation to the talented creators.

Hope Nicholson of Bedside Press is bringing back John K. Snyder III's Eclipse series, Fashion in Action. Not only will the collection reprint the sartorially smart series, it will also feature an article about paper dolls by the one and only Trina Robbins. Now, I know the 1980s are outside the primary time period of interest over here at Sequential Crush, but I just had to share this one because fashion is one of the reasons I'm nuts about the romance genre. This campaign is not yet fully funded, so your pledges are essential to turning this project into a reality!

Whether you decide to back any of these campaigns or spread the word via social media, I hope that you've enjoyed learning a bit about these exciting projects. Best of luck to all those involved! We romance fans are rooting for you!!!